Five Books You Should Read Before You Turn 30

Little differences over a long lifetime create big disparities.
This is the nature of compounding. If you make decisions only a
little better than your cohort that should translate into a big
difference over a lifetime.

Someone who saves money for retirement is probably going to be in
a better situation come 65 than someone who didn’t start saving
until they were 45.

Here are five books that I think everyone should read before they
turn 30. Reading and understanding these will give you an edge,
however slight, that will increase the odds that things will work
out to your satisfaction. When you’re a rich billionaire because
of this, just remember me ok.

1. "Influence: The Psychology of
Persuasion"
Psychologist Robert Cialdini introduces the universal principles
of influence: reciprocation, scarcity, authority, commitment,
liking, and consensus. Sure you can watch the short video but its not the same. Buy
the book. Why do you need to learn these? To paraphrase Publius
Syrus, ‘He can best avoid a snare who knows how to set one.’
After you read this book move on to "Poor Charlie’s Almanack."

2. "Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin To
Munger"
The last time I mentioned this book Farnam Street readers flooded
my inbox. I’ll try to address the two primary concerns that
appeared. First, if you can’t find it new just purchase a used
copy. Who cares? Second: Yes it’s an “expensive” book. Ignorance
is more expensive. Just buy it.

3. "Letters from a Stoic"
I came to Seneca a few years after I turned 30. It’s clear from
reading Seneca that he’s full of wisdom. His letters deal with
everything we deal with today: success, failure, wealth, poverty,
grief. His philosophy is practical. Not only will reading this
book help equip you for what comes in life but it’ll help you
communicate with others.

4. "The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus, A Roman
Soldier"
A Syrian slave, Syrus is a full of timeless wisdom. Want an
example? “From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his
own.” Here is another “It is not every question that deserves an
answer.” Ok, one more? “To do two things at once is to do
neither.” And he didn’t even know of Facebook and Twitter. You
can read this book in under an hour but spend the rest of your
life trying to learn and apply his wisdom.